Folding chair.



PATENTED AUG. 14", 1906.

J. B. PEABODY.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.7.1905.

W (nausea 'ITNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JAMEs B. PEABODY, or NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14', 1906.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES B. PEABoDY,a citizen of the United States, residing at North Manchester, in the county of Wabash and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to folding chairs, and has for its object to provide a device of this class which will fold compactly, easily, and noiselessly without binding and without the consequent injury to the finish on the chair.

I am aware of a large number of folding chairs which are in a measure similar to my device; but, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, my construction is devised primarily with a view of embodying lightness with strength and durability. In a great many folding chairs the parts are so arranged and constructed that they are easily and quickly broken, particularly those chairs wh ch depend upon the rounds or reaches for holding the chair together. Folding chairs of the class of mine are frequently arranged in rows, one row close behind another in such manner that the short legs of the chairs in front form a convenient foot-rest to the occupants in the succeeding row. The inevitable result is a lar e number of broken rounds. or reaches, and in those chairs which depend upon the rounds or reaches to hold the chair together a broken round ruins the chair for further use until repaired. Those chairs which do not depend upon the rounds or reaches for holding the chair together for the most part employ a construction which binds when opening or folding the chair and which after a short usage is seen to have the varnish or finish scraped and scarred in such manner that the chair is unsightly It is for the purpose of obviating all these defects that I have made my present invention; and my invention consists in the construction of the means for tying the legs of the chair together, so as to allow the short legs thereof to slide smoothly and noiselessly through said tying means and without injury to the varnish or finish on the chair.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1 indicates the chair, com rising the.

curved long legs 2, straight short egs 3, back 4, seat 5, and the rounds or reaches 6 and 7, arranged in the long legs, as shown. The seat 5 is pivoted to the long legs 2' as shown at 8 or in any other convenient manner.

9 indicates the combined tie and bearing,

which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises the yoke 10, and flange or guide 11, arranged. on the inside of said yoke, and 12 indicates: a. gudgeon formed on said yoke, asv shown. The short legs 3 are provided on their inner sides-with a longitudinal groove 13 to accornmodate the sai flange 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the long legs 2 are provided with said gudgeon 12 enters, the innerend of said gudgeon being preferably riveted over a bur l5 and washer 16, as shown in Fig. 8.

Having thus fully described my invention, its operation is as follows: The short legs 3 are passed through the yokes 10, the flange 1 1 entering the longitudinal groove 13 in each of said legs, which, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, extends up said legs to the point 17, the wall at the end of said groove acting as a stop for the flange 11, as is obvious. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the flange .11 is somewhat longer than the width of the yoke 10, and it will also be noted from Fig. 3 that a considerable space is left between the ends of said yoke and the edges of the short leg 3..

Then the chair is in an unfolded position, as shown in Fig. 1, the same is folded by carrying the seat up aganist the back, as shown in Fig. 4. This operation rotates the tie and bearing 9 in the long legs 2, and as said tie and bearing rotates the short legs 3 slide up through the yoke 10. The flange 11 being longer than the width of the yoke 10 the action of the short legs 3 on the tie and bearing 8o a transverse perforation 14, within which the 9 to rotate the same is taken up by the flanges 11 in the groove 13 of the short legs 3, the sides of the yoke 10 not being at any time in contact with the edges of the short legs, thereby obviating all binding and scraping between the yoke and short legs and preventing the scarring of the varnish or finish. At i the same time the yoke 10 ties the short and long legs together, so as to effectually prevent their spreading and the consequent collapse of the chair, while it does away with the necessity of a round or reach in the short legs and greatly lessens the liability of having the chair broken.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction herein set forth, as various slight changes may be made therein which would fall within the limit and scope of my invention, and I consider myself clearly entitled to all such changes and modifications.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a folding chair, the combination with the short legs each provided with a longitudinal groove, of the long legs, a tie and bearing disposed in each of said long legs and a 3. Ina folding chair, the combination with the short legs, each provided with a longitudinal groove, of the long legs, a bearing disposed in each of said long legs and secured thereto, each bearing in said long legs com prising a guide constructed to enter each of said longitudinal grooves in said short legs, and a yoke on each of said bearings through which said short legs slide to tie the long and short legs together, said guides in said longitudinal grooves guiding said yokes in such manner that all binding between said okes and the short legs is obviated and scarrlng of the varnish or finish on the side edges of the short legs prevented, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of witnesses.

JAIWES B. PEABODY.

Witnesses:

JOHN ISENBARGER, Lon D. FLEMING, CHAS. H. OLINGER. 

